STUD or DUD: Should BMW Have Produced This Long-Kept Secret?

I do not even know what to say, but BMW kept this one hidden in their back pocket for a very long time.  Why, it is an M5 convertible.

For me that is probably one of the most awkward sentences to say but it is true!  I guess this can be considered the precursor to the current M6 convertible?

Autocar reports:

"BMW has finally confirmed that it developed an M5 convertible 20 years ago, but canned it a week before it was due to be launched due to sales concerns.

The long-rumoured car was shown to a select group of journalists at an event celebrating 25 years of the BMW M5, and autocar.co.uk has obtained exclusive photos....."

So, two thumbs up OR did BMW make the right move?


2009 SEMA Auto Show Photo Gallery

2010 Porsche 911 Turbo Photo Gallery

Wimmer - 10/29/2009 1:00:33 PM

+8 Boost

Looks really nice. Would have made a great "6-Series" back then.

B7FAN - 10/30/2009 8:02:32 AM

+1 Boost

this is really old news I seen this on wiki....too bad it became scrap metal after the project was scrapped. maybe it will be something to look foward too in the near distant future being that MB has the E-Class coupe......

BondMI6 - 10/29/2009 1:31:12 PM

-6 Boost

Uh, no.

Very good biz decision not to make it...

Corsis - 10/29/2009 2:00:29 PM

+7 Boost

Yes they should have. Beautiful car still today.

PPower - 10/29/2009 4:02:36 PM

-2 Boost

They made the right decision.

veyron1001 - 10/29/2009 4:10:13 PM

-3 Boost

Agreed. I bet this car would be worse than a 5 series sedan of its time.

veyron1001 - 10/30/2009 4:37:08 PM

0 Boost

I have driven one. I said a five series would outperform an M5 convertible. If that is you know how to read.

Steve - 10/29/2009 4:39:29 PM

+4 Boost

A decade and a half ago, it would have been a winner. Today, it looks dated, because, well, it's a design from over a decade ago.

There is definitely a market for a "larger than 3-series" 4-place convertible. Small, but there.

thetruth01 - 10/29/2009 4:54:12 PM

+3 Boost

Ahhhh, back when BMWs were gorgeous. This would have been wildly expensive, and only a few would have sold. Perhaps enough to trickle it down to the regular 5 series tho. Imagine how great these would b on the used car market. I would so snatch one up, no matter what engine. Hot Hot Hot

Joe_Limon - 10/29/2009 5:39:34 PM

-2 Boost

Back when BMWs were gorgeous? Are you sure we are looking at the same picture and talking about the same company? BMW's boxes were atrocious imo.

thstone - 10/29/2009 6:40:39 PM

+1 Boost

I love the old design. No Chris Bangle booty on this baby!

tango - 10/29/2009 7:29:41 PM

+2 Boost

Ironically, when I was in high school I actually did some drawings of my impression of what an E34 coupe looked like. I thought it rather strange then, that BMW didn't have an equivalent to the Mercedes W124 coupes/convertibles of the time. Should they have built it? Well, now I am not so sure. BMW has done very well with their decisions over the years, like it or not. Whatever BMW puts out their fans embrace almost without question.

2ndbimmer - 10/30/2009 10:49:13 AM

+2 Boost

looks amazing, glad they didnt scrap all of them because its definitely a treasure to have!

85bmw745i - 10/31/2009 7:09:26 PM

+1 Boost

I agree 1UAW. I miss the older designs. they had much more character and soul, just like the older Domestic cars did. What I would love is for them to come out with a retro E30 M3. the closest thing to an e30 we have is the 1 series, and despite the fact that it is a great performing car, it is still to fat and heavy for its small size. The old e30 3 series (1984 -1991) were and still are a blast to drive. Sure they arent straight line beast like mustangs and camaro's but they are a blast to throw around and perform very well for a car of that time.